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Widow of botched sinus operation victim awaits justice

DUBAI — For Nahed Nazir, whose husband Showkat Nazir died in a local private hospital allegedly due to a botched sinus operation in September last, it has already been a long wait for the final outcome of the pending court inquiry and police investigation.

Nahed's family, that filed a formal complaint of "medical malpractice and negligence" against the doctor and the private hospital concerned, now says that this "delay" is further adding to their distress.

In fact, Nahed maintains, that even after a lapse of nearly six months, she has yet to be formally informed about any details regarding the status of her complaint. But Dohms officials confirm that a report detailing the findings of the department's Mortality and Morbidity (M&M) Committee has already been forwarded to the court.

When asked about the preliminary findings, they added, "the details of our internal departmental inquiry cannot be disclosed at this stage — as the matter is in court."

Meanwhile, it is understood, that the court has sent back the case files to the police for further investigation, which is presently in progress.

Showkat, who is survived by his widow and a 22-month-son, was the only bread-earner for a family of five sisters, besides his elderly parents back home in Pakistan.

Interestingly, in 2005, as many as over 1,000 cases of alleged medical malpractice or negligence were dealt with by Dohms. Its regulatory M&M Committee found four doctors guilty as charged and revoked their medical practicing licence - banning them from practicing in the UAE - according to Dohms Director General, Qadhi Murooshid.